2 Timothy

Dealing with False Teachers. These verses divide into two sections. In 2:14–26 Paul introduces the false teaching (v. 16) and explains how Timothy should respond to it and be different from the false teachers. In 3:1–9 he describes the false teachers more extensively. Having exhorted Timothy to steadfast endurance, Paul now begins to address the problem directly.

A Call to Bold Endurance in Ministry, Part 2. This section resumes the call to Spirit-empowered boldness. As in 1:6–14, Timothy’s call to “share in suffering” (2:3) is paralleled by Paul’s own suffering (v. 9), and the endurance to which Timothy is called (v. 1) is mirrored by Paul’s endurance (v. 10). Furthermore, both sections open with a call to stay strong in Christ (1:6–7; 2:1–2), and the exhortations are each time rooted in the saving work of Christ (1:9–10; 2:8–10).

what you have heard from me. Throughout this letter, Paul emphasizes the message Timothy has received from him (see 1:13; 2:8). As Paul faces death, he encourages Timothy to pass the gospel on to faithful men who will in turn teach others, so that the gospel is preserved for coming generations.

Using three analogies, Paul sets forth the call to service and suffering. Verse 4 calls for single-minded desire to please God. Verse 5 reiterates that one must obey God’s rules in order to succeed. Verse 6 is the least clear but seems to encourage hard work by holding out the promise of blessing.

This verse has at times been misinterpreted as a call away from “secular,” civilian pursuits. The Bible, however, does not allow Christians to separate life into distinct realms, “spiritual” and “secular.” All of life is to be lived spiritually, in obedience to the Spirit according to the Word of God. Paul does not see secular activities as being out of bounds but is warning Timothy not to allow anything (even perhaps things that could be considered “spiritual”) to distract him from his task.

Paul exhorts Timothy to make the effort to think and meditate on what Paul has written; as he does so, God will give him understanding in everything about which Paul has instructed him. The believer’s efforts and God’s empowering work together.

Jesus’s descent from David does not contradict Matthew’s and Luke’s narratives of Jesus’s virginal conception (Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:34). Jesus was Joseph’s legal, not biological, descendant and was thus of David’s line. Luke’s genealogy of Jesus possibly traces Jesus’s lineage back to David through Mary’s line, so that Jesus may have been a descendant of David both biologically and legally.

Paul continues the thought of vv. 1–7 by rooting his exhortation in the realities of the gospel (cf. 1:9–11). Remember Jesus Christ. Paul certainly doesn’t think that Timothy is in danger of forgetting Jesus! Rather, this is a call to remain mindful of the truths of the gospel, which is centered on Jesus, the risen Messiah (offspring of David).

endure … for the sake of the elect. While there is disagreement among Christians on the doctrine of election, a biblical understanding of the doctrine does not undercut mission work but enables it. Paul endures precisely because of a certainty that, through his ministry, God will save some. See notes on Rom. 8:29; 8:30; Eph. 1:11.

The trustworthy statement moves from comfort to challenge and back to comfort: v. 11b is a reminder of life even in the face of death; v. 12 calls for perseverance; v. 13 is a reminder of God’s preserving power and faithfulness. In this context, to deny him must entail a more serious offense than being faithless. Denying Christ envisions final apostasy, in contrast with a temporary lapse in trusting Christ (“if we are faithless”). Those who deny Jesus will be judged forever; but all believers sin, and God is faithful and will pardon, restore, and keep those who are truly his.

Timothy in Contrast to the False Teachers. Paul contrasts Timothy and the false teachers: vv. 14–19 contrast Timothy’s faithful ministry with the worthless ministry of the opponents; vv. 20–21 provide an illustration; in vv. 22–26 Paul exhorts Timothy not to be drawn into sinful desire and needless controversy, and counsels him on how to handle his opponents.

Remind them. Thus far in the letter Timothy has been the primary object of the exhortations and the one who is to “remember” (v. 8). Here Paul shifts to Timothy’s role in reminding the congregation. not to quarrel about words. Paul is clearly willing to argue when the gospel is at stake—he opposed Peter to his face (Gal. 2:11). What is prohibited here is meaningless argument. does no good. The concern here, as in 1 Timothy, is a teaching that has no positive, practical impact on its adherents (see 2 Tim. 2:16–17).

Do your best, i.e., “Be zealous” (Gk. spoudazō). The believer must zealously pursue God’s approval. One way to do this is to make sure one is rightly handling Scripture, which contrasts with the meaningless disputes of the false teachers.

spread like gangrene. This Greek idiom stresses the repulsiveness of the false view as well as the danger of its spreading. Medical imagery is used to describe the bad effects of the false teaching in contrast to the “healthy” or “sound” teaching of Paul (see note on 1 Tim. 1:10; also 2 Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1). Hymenaeus was mentioned as a false teacher in 1 Tim. 1:20, but Philetus is not mentioned elsewhere.

Arguing that the resurrection had already occurred meant that merely the spirit was resurrected, not the body (implying that death is victorious in the end). Some of Paul’s opponents excused immoral behavior. They reasoned that if the physical body had no place in God’s plan for the final redeemed state, then the body and its actions did not matter to God (1Co 6:13-20). Other opponents argued that if God did not resurrect the body, then he must regard the body as innately evil. They responded by embracing a lifestyle that avoided sex, food, and other blessings God meant for his people to enjoy within a proper context (1Tm 4:3).

The idea that the resurrection has already happened seems similar to some errors Paul counters in 1 Corinthians 15 (see esp. 1 Cor. 15:12–20). Apparently some taught that believers had already entered the glorified post-resurrection state; although nothing more is known about the content of this heresy.

But. In spite of the work of evildoers and evil teachers, God’s firm foundation (probably meaning the elect members of the church; see v. 10) still stands firm. bearing this seal. The twofold inscription that follows emphasizes (1) divine sovereignty (preserving) and (2) human responsibility (persevering). While some believers may have apostatized (v. 18), Paul finds assurance in the fact that God knows those who are his. At the same time, those who claim to be the Lord’s must demonstrate this as they depart from iniquity.

Paul uses an illustration to support his call to “depart from iniquity” (v. 19). What is dishonorable includes doctrinal and moral error, since both are in view in the letter. Those who depart from such errors and avoid impurity in their lives prepare themselves to be useful to the master and ready for every good work. This is a promise of blessing in the pursuit of holiness.

youthful passions. “Passions” (Gk. epithymia) in this context refers to sinful desires in general (not only sexual desire), especially those that tend to be characteristic of youth. Paul may hint in vv. 23–25 that one of these would be a tendency to quarrel or be hotheaded. The command to flee what is wrong is combined with the command to pursue what is right (cf. note on 1 Tim. 6:11–12). The pursuit of right is not to be done alone but along with other believers. Connection with the community of faith is essential for both progress in sanctification and perseverance in the faith.

False teaching produces quarrels rather than godliness. See note on v. 14.

Servant is the common word for “slave” or “bondservant” (Gk. doulos), but Paul uses it also to refer to those who preach the gospel, e.g., himself (Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:10; Titus 1:1) and Epaphras (Col. 4:12). This section (2 Tim. 2:24–26) is a key passage concerning a pastor’s handling of troublesome people in the church.

Most interpreters see these opponents as unbelievers who do not have a knowledge of the truth (i.e., salvation; cf. note on 1 Tim. 2:4). Paul emphasizes the importance of not dealing with such “quarrelsome” people in a “quarrelsome” manner (2 Tim. 2:24) but rather correcting the opponents in a spirit of gentleness (2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 6:1; Eph. 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:15; cf. gentleness as a fruit of the spirit; Gal. 5:23). This verse further emphasizes the sovereignty of God in granting repentance.

come to their senses. Although the fall (Genesis 3) brought about a destructive effect on human reason (see notes on Rom. 1:21; 1:22), salvation brings the ability to begin to see reality. Paul’s regular reference to the false teachers’ lack of knowledge and understanding (e.g., 2 Tim. 2:16, 23; 3:8) points to the fact that they fail to grasp what is really true. the snare of the devil. Paul often describes humanity as enslaved by the devil and in need of rescue (see 2 Cor. 4:4).